s at
Wonwondah, and having purchased, in the presence of witnesses, specimens
of their idols from the Doctor or Sacred Man of these tribes, I informed
my dear friends, Rev. P. Simpson and his excellent lady, of my exploits
and possessions. He replied, "There is a black 'doctor' gone round our
house just now to see one of his people who is washing here to-day. Let
us go and test them, whether they know these objects."

Carrying them in his hand, we went to them. The woman instantly on
perceiving them dropped what she was washing, and turned away in
instinctive terror. Mr. Simpson asked, "Have you ever before seen stones
like these?"

The wily "doctor" replied, "Plenty on the plains, where I kick them out
of my way."

Taking others out of my pocket, I said, "These make people sick and
well, don't they?"

His rage overcame his duplicity, and he exclaimed, "What black fellow
give you these? If I know him I do for him!"

The woman, looking the picture of terror, and pointing to one of the
objects, cried, "That fellow no good! he kill men. No good, no good! Me
too much afraid."

Then, looking at me, she said, pointing with her finger, "That fellow
savvy (knows) too much! No white man see them. He no good."

There was more in this scene and in all its surroundings, than in many
arguments; and Mr. Simpson thoroughly believed that these were objects
of idolatrous worship.

And now let me relate the story of my visit to Nora, the converted
Aboriginal referred to above. Accompanied by Robert Hood, Esq., J. P.,
Victoria, I found my way to the encampment near Hexham. She did not know
of our coming, nor see us till we stood at the door of her hut. She was
clean and tidily dressed, as were also her dear little children, and
appeared glad to see us. She had just been reading the _Presbyterian
Messenger_, and the Bible was lying at her elbow. I said, "Do you read
the _Messenger_?"

She replied, "Yes; I like to know what is going on in the Church."

We found her to be a sensible and humble Christian woman, conversing
intelligently about religion and serving God devotedly. Next Sabbath she
brought her husband, her children, and six blacks to church, all
decently dressed, and they all listened most attentively.

At our first meeting I said, "Nora, they tell me you are a Christian. I
want to ask you a few questions about the blacks; and I hope that as a
Christian you will speak the truth." Rather hurt at my language, she
rais